Pedicab drivers could sue city govt: Lawyer

Pedicab drivers could sue city govt: Lawyer

JAKARTA (JP): Pedicab drivers have sufficient legal grounds to
take the Jakarta administration to court over the latter's about-
face on permitting their vehicles to operate in the capital, a
lawyer from the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute has said.

They could sue Governor Sutiyoso for causing them financial
losses through his on-again, off-again decision, Dewi Novirianti
said Monday.

"The governor's inconsistency has obviously caused financial
losses to the drivers because they had to spend quite a large
amount of money to finance their trips from other cities to the
capital and their daily survival here," she said.

"After all, all they got from the governor's decision was
nothing but disappointment."

Sutiyoso announced last month he would allow the pedicabs
(becak) to operate again after a 10-year ban in what he said was
a move intended to help the poor get jobs during the crisis.

But he backtracked on his decision just six days later because
he argued the influx of drivers was causing traffic jams by
operating on major thoroughfares.

Dewi's statement was made in line with the announcement of
results of a recent poll conducted by a non-governmental
organization, Urban Poor Consortium.

UPC coordinator Wardah Hafidz said 86 percent of 1,000
respondents supported the decision for pedicabs to operate again,
especially on nonprotocol roads and around residential complexes
or market areas.

They supported the reoperation because it was a cheap
transportation means (50.8 percent) and could help the drivers to
survive the crisis (47.9 percent), Wardah said.

Just over a third of respondents -- 33.9 percent -- endorsed
the pedicabs because they considered them a nonpolluting form of
transportation.

Respondents against the return of pedicabs to the city's five
mayoralties said they would exacerbate traffic problems (75
respondents) because drivers were difficult to supervise (63
respondents).

About 125 pedicab drivers from North Jakarta met city
councilors Monday, seeking their support in persuading the
governor to let them operate on streets around traditional
markets and residential areas.

Separately, political observer Ryaas Rasyid backed the city
administration's decision to abide by the city ordinance.

Sutiyoso's policy flip-flop was symptomatic of politicians who
gained their positions under the former regime of president
Soeharto, he said Sunday.

"They are afraid of being regarded as nonreformists and try to
change their image. They just want to show that they have
changed. Sutiyoso is trying to create an image that he takes the
side of the poor."

He rejected recommendations from some that pedicab drivers
should push for Sutiyoso's resignation.

"It's too much to demand Sutiyoso step down just because of
this kind of problem. An apology is enough," he said.

Ryaas also believed the pedicab issue could not be solved
simply by gathering a public opinion poll.

He said the fundamental problem was the capital's traffic
management and system.

"Since the beginning, Jakarta's concept of traffic is already
disorganized. The infrastructure is discriminative toward
nonengine vehicles and pedestrians since they only provide slow
and fast lanes for engined vehicles."

Allowing pedicab drivers back on the street would just add to
the city's traffic headaches, he added.

"I object to the pedicab drivers' demand to ply Jakarta's
alleys and small streets because the streets are already served
by engined vehicles. It will only stir up another conflict of
interest among the drivers." (ind/cst)